As I power through the P90X3 routines each day, I listen and laugh at Tony Horton’s banter. His stupid sense of humor helps me keep things in perspective. But today, during the MMX warm up sequence, something was said that I feel compelled to correct.

When we’re warming up, doing Jumping Jacks, Tony Horton states that they are named after none other than Jack LaLanne. Now I don’t want to start some kind of epic battle with Mr. Horton by calling him a liar in this public, worldwide forum. Yet it would be a disservice to you, my loyal readership, to let this total, complete falsehood go unchallenged.

In fact, Jumping Jacks are not named after Jack LaLanne. This is an urban legend, promulgated by lying fitness professionals who use their media soapbox to lie to their customers. And the customers, typically, are so invested in the effort of just trying to survive the routine that they lack the intellectual resources to question the lies being laid at their feet.

The truth is that Jumping Jacks are named after the traditional toy of the same name (source: www.princeton.edu). So, shame on you, Tony Horton. Shame on you for abusing your stature in the home fitness industry to so mislead us, your slavish sycophants.

But the deception doesn’t end there, no. The whole Jumping Jack incident got me questioning other things I had merely been taking for granted. Another lie comes in the naming of the so-called “Tony’s Triangle.” We are lead to believe that this leg routine is named after Tony Horton. But a little digging on the internet again reveals a truth that is far different. In fact, Tony’s Triangle is named after the famed Antonio Stradivari (1644–1737) who, in the 16th century, invented the triangular shaped musical instrument on a lark to get out of a bar tab. The instrument, originally called “Antonio’s Triangolo,” was later anglicized to “Tony’s Triangle.” Horton had nothing to do with it.

It was about this same time last year when I uncovered the P90X Legs & Back Sneaky Lunge controversy. At the time, I assumed no malicious intent on Tony’s part. But now, with these other inconsistencies, I’m sensing a pattern. And it’s not a good one.

Milestone: I’m now half way done with this P90X3 round. I can only imagine what other lies await my discovery.